ST. PAUL, Minn. — To get him some playing time and pare its roster down, the Avalanche on Monday night sent defenseman Kyle Cumiskey to Lake Erie of the American Hockey League.

The Avs called Cumiskey’s departure a “two-week conditioning assignment.” Entering Monday’s game with Minnesota, the Avs had eight healthy defensemen and wanted to give Cumiskey some playing time at least at the minor-pro level.

Cumiskey and veteran Jordan Leopold were scratched from the Wild game. Leopold took pregame warm- ups and was available to play after missing a week with concussion symptoms.

Sakic, on Forsberg.

Avs star Peter Forsberg was tough on himself for his performance in the 3-1 loss, but longtime teammate Joe Sakic wasn’t worried.

“It’ll come for Peter,” Sakic said. “It was his first game back in a while. It doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s going to come.”

Footnotes.

Avs winger Ryan Smyth started the game on a line with Tyler Arnason and Cody McLeod. But after not much effectiveness with that combination, coach Joel Quenneville moved Smyth back to his usual line with Paul Stastny and Milan Hejduk by the third period. Andrew Brunette took Smyth’s spot to start the game. . . . The Avs dropped to 0-5-2 in their past seven meetings with the Wild at Xcel Energy Center. . . . The Wild has won the past three games overall with Colorado and plays the Avs twice more in the regular season.

The Broncos' 2018 class of first-year players endured some lighthearted hazing after practice Tuesday in an annual event at UCHealth Training Center. Veterans played barber in the most hilarious (and mean) ways possible. Here is a collection of the best rookie haircuts this training camp.

The Rockies made a roster move on Tuesday in Houston ahead of the start of their six-game road trip, placing reliever Scott Oberg on the paternity list and recalling infielder Garrett Hampson from Triple-A Albuquerque in a corresponding move.